Republicans, Heal Thyselves!

After a year of contentious infighting, bitter feuds and stalled legislation, President Obama has taken a new tack in his attempt to achieve bipartisanship on Capitol Hill, forcing face-to-face negotiations with his staunchest critics. Since January, Mr. Obama has convened his political foes in a variety of settings, trying to persuade even one Republican to cross over--but to no avail.

Still, if Washington is serious about healing its divisions, perhaps there's an easier solution. Maybe if the president and his enemies met at a well-stocked bookstore in D.C. and simply read titles to one another--in the self-help aisle and from a few neighboring shelves--they could finally find a way to dialogue...

President Obama: "Let's Start Talking."

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.): "No." "I Don't Want to Talk About It."

Obama: "What Does That Mean?" "Focus on the Positive." "Have a Little Faith." "You Can't Afford the Luxury of a Negative Thought."

McConnell: "Yes I Can."

Obama: "Don't Be So Defensive." "Why Can't We Get Along?"

Rep. John A. Boehner (R-Ohio): "Now, That's a Good Question."

Obama: "Come On, People." "Let's Get Real or Let's Not Play." "What's the Bottom Line?" "What's Making You Angry?"

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.): "I'm Not Mad, I Just Hate You!"

Obama: "Are You Kidding Me?" "What Did I Do Wrong?"

Sen. Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine): "He's Just Not That Into You."

Obama: "I Hear You, But..." "We're All in This Together." "How Can I Get Through to You?" "What Can I Do To Help?"

Bill Persky is a producer-writer-director whose credits include "The Dick Van Dyke Show," "That Girl" and "Kate and Allie." Bruce Kluger is a writer and Bill Persky fan. This piece originally appeared in The Los Angeles Times on March 14, 2010.